Left guard Andrew Norwell picked up one of the four penalties on Ohio State's offensive line last Saturday, called for a hold that OSU offensive line coach Ed Warinner, while explaining it, obviously didn't see that way.

"He pancaked a guy, so it might have looked like a hold," Warinner said.

"I put him on his back and fell on top of him," Norwell said with a smile, "put some syrup on him."

The junior has been creating his own breakfast of champions through the first two games of the season as Ohio State's best offensive lineman, the only member of the line to earn a champion's grade in both wins.

"Coach Warinner is very high on him," OSU coach Urban Meyer said, "and says he's one of the most improved players on our team."

Norwell started the first five games of last season at left tackle during Mike Adams' suspension, then moved to guard for the second half of the season. He said he's comfortable at both spots, and at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he's enough of an athlete to handle himself on a pass-rush island as a tackle, or to play inside as a guard, where he can get out and pull more often.

Against Cal's defense today, Norwell's job may change bit. The Bears play what Meyer called a "feast-or-famine defense" that will try to get into the OSU backfield a lot while also bringing its safeties down and playing the Buckeye receivers one-on-one. Center Corey Linsley may have a load to bear with a Cal defender lined up right over him, but if Norwell and the line can give Braxton Miller a little time, there may be some big plays available to Ohio State in the passing game.

"It's going to be a lot of one-on-one matchups, and we have to take that shot," Meyer said, "understanding that you might have a couple foul balls, but you hit one of them, then that risk [is worth it]."

The coaches have said it'll be a test of manhood for players like receiver Devin Smith, who should have a tough cornerback like Cal senior Marc Anthony on him all day.

"There's going to be a grown man covering you up for 55 or 60 plays, and he's got to win a good share of them," Meyer said.

On the line, Norwell, with long flowing hair he hasn't cut in two years, should win his share. Norwell calls his locks "curls for the girls," because they're jealous of his mane. If there's anything to really be jealous of, it's the way Norwell has done his job so far this season.

"I think I'm pretty good," Norwell said when asked for a job evaluation. "I work hard and I hope it shows on the field."

What if Allen is better than that? What if he's the best player the Buckeyes face all year?

In an NFL mock draft from Rob Rang of CBSsports.com that was updated this week, OSU defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins is listed as the No. 3 overall pick, with Allen going No. 6 overall. After catching 98 passes for 1,343 yards last season, Allen has 11 catches for 136 yards during Cal's 1-1 start. No Buckeye is more eager to go after the 6-3 Allen than sophomore Bradley Roby, Ohio State's top cover guy.

KEY TO THE GAME

Finding someone to run it: Cal is going to try to take away Braxton Miller as a runner today. The Bears will dare Miller to beat them over the top, and maybe Ohio State's sophomore quarterback will make the throws, maybe he won't. But he has to be able to give the ball to someone else in the run game.

The talk all week has been about the number 27 – Miller's carries last week.

"We have to have enough plays where he can hand the ball off a little bit and compose himself," OSU coach Urban Meyer said. "But when you hand it off, you have to hand it off to someone."

It seems like the answer today could be Jordan Hall, back from his foot injury. It could be Bri'onte Dunn or Rod Smith or Zach Boren or Philly Brown, or some combination of all of them.

In their first game, the Buckeyes got 131 rushing yards on 36 carries from players besides Miller. In game two, it was 115 yards on 24 carries. Here's the number for today, with starting running back Carlos Hyde out: 100 rushing yards from Buckeyes beyond Braxton and Ohio State wins, 150 yards and Ohio State wins big. Fewer than 75, and it could be a problem.

-- Doug Lesmerises

"When you consider yourself to be one of the best, you want to go against the best," Roby said. "This is just another day when I can go out and show what I think of myself."

With Ohio State looking to increase its pressure on the quarterback, the Buckeyes could bring more blitzes and put their corners in more one-on-one coverage as well.

"If you sit back in cover three (a deep zone defense) and come up and tackle someone from Miami of Ohio on a hitch, that doesn't make you a prime-time player," Meyer said. "Covering this cat -- we'll find out how good (Roby is)."

Images of Urban

Meyer said his favorite 10 minutes of the day come when he personally coaches an Ohio State kickoff unit filled with hungry young guys. That should tell you a lot about Meyer as a coach.

"That's my favorite unit on the team right now," Meyer said. "That's the one unit that I'm kind of jacked about coaching. It's fun. I hope our fans enjoy watching five silver helmets hitting guys on the 14-yard line."

Focus on 2013

The fans should watch that kickoff unit for more than just fun. Among the players singled out by Meyer are four true freshmen – defensive backs Devan Bogard and Najee Murray and linebackers David Perkins and Jamal Marcus.

There's no better way to scout for Buckeyes who could be impact defenders as sophomores and juniors than to check out who's getting it done on special teams. Freshman David Perkins was singled out by Meyer for flexing to celebrate a hit last week -- "That will be the last time you see him stand up and do his little deal" -- but Perkins and Marcus will be in the fight to replace senior linebacker Etienne Sabino next year.

"They're going to be good football players here," Meyer said of those freshmen. "Why? Because they are relentless and they are selfless and they say yes when you ask them to do something full speed."

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